Methods, Devices, and Systems for Capability Coordination in Dual-Connection

The present disclosure is directed generally to wireless communications. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems for user equipment (UE) capability coordination in dual-connection (DC).

Wireless communication technologies are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society. High-speed and low-latency wireless communications rely on efficient network resource management and allocation between user equipment and wireless access network nodes (including but not limited to base stations). A new generation network is expected to provide high speed, low latency and ultra-reliable communication capabilities and fulfill the requirements from different industries and users.

For the 5th Generation (5G) mobile communication technology, a user equipment (UE), for example, a smart phone, may experience a temporary restriction on its communication capability. For example, when the UE works at dual active state with two networks, the UE may have the temporary UE capability restriction for connection to the two networks. There are various problems/issues associated with this situation, for example, how the UE indicates the temporary UE capability restriction to one or all of the two networks.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments for capability coordination in dual-connection, addressing at least one of issues/problems described in the present disclosure, and improving the performance of the wireless communication.

This document relates to methods, systems, and devices for wireless communication, and more specifically, for coordinating user equipment (UE) capability in dual-connection (DC).

In one embodiment, the present disclosure describes a method for wireless communication. The method includes sending, by a user equipment (UE) to a first network, a UE assistance information comprising UE temporary capability restriction, the UE capability restriction indicating one or more restriction dimensions to the first network.

In another embodiment, the present disclosure describes a method for wireless communication. The method includes receiving, by a first network from a user equipment (UE), a UE assistance information comprising UE temporary capability restriction, the UE capability restriction indicating one or more restriction dimensions to the first network.

In some other embodiments, an apparatus for wireless communication may include a memory storing instructions and a processing circuitry in communication with the memory. When the processing circuitry executes the instructions, the processing circuitry is configured to carry out the above methods.

In some other embodiments, a device for wireless communication may include a memory storing instructions and a processing circuitry in communication with the memory. When the processing circuitry executes the instructions, the processing circuitry is configured to carry out the above methods.

In some other embodiments, a computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the above methods. The computer-readable medium may be referred as non-transitory computer-readable media (CRM) that stores data for extended periods such as a flash drive or compact disk (CD), or for short periods in the presence of power such as a memory device or random access memory (RAM).

The above and other aspects and their implementations are described in greater detail in the drawings, the descriptions, and the claims.

The present disclosure will now be described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanied drawings, which form a part of the present disclosure, and which show, by way of illustration, specific examples of embodiments. Please note that the present disclosure may, however, be embodied in a variety of different forms and, therefore, the covered or claimed subject matter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any of the embodiments to be set forth below.

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in some embodiments” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” or “in other embodiments” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. The phrase “in one implementation” or “in some implementations” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same implementation and the phrase “in another implementation” or “in other implementations” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different implementation. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter includes combinations of exemplary embodiments or implementations in whole or in part.

In general, terminology may be understood at least in part from usage in context. For example, terms, such as “and”, “or”, or “and/or,” as used herein may include a variety of meanings that may depend at least in part upon the context in which such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list, such as A, B or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in the inclusive sense, as well as A, B or C, here used in the exclusive sense. In addition, the term “one or more” or “at least one” as used herein, depending at least in part upon context, may be used to describe any feature, structure, or characteristic in a singular sense or may be used to describe combinations of features, structures or characteristics in a plural sense. Similarly, terms, such as “a”, “an”, or “the”, again, may be understood to convey a singular usage or to convey a plural usage, depending at least in part upon context. In addition, the term “based on” or “determined by” may be understood as not necessarily intended to convey an exclusive set of factors and may, instead, allow for existence of additional factors not necessarily expressly described, again, depending at least in part on context.

The present disclosure describes methods and devices for user equipment (UE) capability coordination in dual-connection (DC).

New generation (NG) mobile communication system are moving the world toward an increasingly connected and networked society. High-speed and low-latency wireless communications rely on efficient network resource management and allocation between user equipment and wireless access network nodes (including but not limited to wireless base stations). A new generation network is expected to provide high speed, low latency and ultra-reliable communication capabilities and fulfill the requirements from different industries and users.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments for user equipment (UE) capability coordination in dual-connection (DC). Under one or more scenarios, a user equipment (UE) may connect to more than one network nodes at the same time. The network nodes, for example, may include one or more radio access network (RAN) node and/or one or more core network (CN) node. In one implementation, the UE may connect with two network nodes at the same time, which may be referred as “dual-active state”, which need the UE and/or one or more network nodes to coordinate the multiple connections, so as to provide an efficient system for the one or more scenarios.

One scenario may include that, for a UE having multiple subscriber identity modules (Multi-SIMs) (or multiple universal subscriber identity modules (Multi-USIMs), the UE may connect with the multiple networks at the same time. In another scenario, a UE with a single SIM may connect with the multiple networks at the same time. Another scenario may include, a roaming UE may connect multiple networks for different slices. In another scenario, as an enhancement on the slice, a wireless communication system may need to be enable a roaming UE to access network slices from more than one visited public land mobile networks (VPLMNs) simultaneously, which means the UE may connect to the 2 network simultaneously, which is similar to the Multi-SIM. In another scenario, the video, imaging and audio for professional applications (VIAPA) may require a method of enabling a UE to receive data services from one network (e.g. non-public network (NPN)) and to receive paging as well as data services from another network (e.g. public land mobile network (PLMN)) simultaneously, which is similar to the Multi-SIM.

When the UE configures to connect multiple network at the same time, the UE capability may need to be coordinated. In some implementations with radio access capability signalling (RACS), the UE radio access capability may be packaged as a predefined or network defined UE capability ID.

In various embodiments, for the Multi-SIM (or Multi-USIM), the UE may connect to multiple networks simultaneously for different cases.

In some implementations with paging receiving on a second subscriber identity module (SIM) when a first subscriber identity module (SIM) is at connected state, it may be solved by time division multiplexing (TDM), e.g. reserving the scheduling gap for the SIM. There may be no cooperation for that there was not simultaneously connection with 2 networks. However, for the dual receiving/transmitting (RX) UE, this scheme may affect the performance of SIMby reserving scheduling gap with paging period. Another solution for the dual RX UE is to reserve part of radio frequency or physical (RF/PHY) resources for the paging receiving. In some implementations with short dual connected state, the SIMmay be at connected state, and the SIMhas to do some mobility update, e.g. periodic registration, moving into a new registration area, or response the paging. The UE may need capability cooperation during the short dual connected state. In some implementations with long dual connected state, the UE may have a voice call on the SIM, meanwhile have some other data service on the SIM. The UE may need capability cooperation.

There may be some issues/problems that need to be resolved. For example, Multi-SIM (or Multi-USIM) UE's hardware capabilities may be shared by more than one SIMs. To use the hardware efficiently and economically, the related capabilities need to be dynamically split between the more than one SIMs. This may lead to a temporary hardware conflict. For example, the UE is connected to one network (network A), it would have some capability restriction to another network (network B). Thus, the UE need to indicate the capability restriction to the network B when the UE enters into the connected state with network B.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments for UE capability coordination in dual-active state, addressing at least one of issues/problems described above, providing solutions, and improving the performance of the wireless communication.

shows a wireless communication systemincluding more than one network nodes (and) and one or more user equipment (UE) (,, and). In some implementations, the two network nodes (and) may from two different networks, or may from a same network.

For the 5th Generation mobile communication technology, a UE, for example, a smart phone, may have a single subscriber identity module (SIM) or multiple subscriber identity modules (Multi-SIMs). When the UE has a single SIM, the UE may connect to one network node, for example, a radio access network (RAN) node and/or a core network (CN) node, or may connect to more than one network nodes (and), for example, two RAN nodes and/or two CN nodes. When the UE has Multi-SIMs, the UE may connect to more than one network nodes (and), for example, two RAN nodes, two CN nodes, and/or one RAN node and one CN node.

The wireless network node (and) may include a network base station, which may be a nodeB (NB, e.g., eNB, or gNB) in a mobile telecommunications context. Each of the UE (,, and/or) may wirelessly communicate with the wireless network node (and/or) via one or more radio channels. For example, the first UEmay wirelessly communicate with the first network nodevia a channel including a plurality of radio channels during a certain period of time; during another period of time or simultaneously at the same time, the first UEmay wirelessly communicate with the second network nodevia a channel including a plurality of radio channels.

The present disclosure describes various embodiments for user equipment (UE) capability coordination in dual-connection (DC) for one, some, or all of the scenarios as described in the present disclosure. The present disclosure describes methods, systems, and storage medium of how the UE coordinates temporary UE capability restriction (e.g., UE capability restriction information) to one or more network (or network node), and/or how one or more network node coordinate temporary UE capability restriction (e.g., UE capability restriction information) to other network nodes and/or to the UE.

shows an example of electronic deviceto implement a network node or network base station. The example electronic devicemay include radio transmitting/receiving (Tx/Rx) circuitryto transmit/receive communication with UEs and/or other base stations. The electronic devicemay also include network interface circuitryto communicate the base station with other base stations and/or a core network, e.g., optical or wireline interconnects, Ethernet, and/or other data transmission mediums/protocols. The electronic devicemay optionally include an input/output (I/O) interfaceto communicate with an operator or the like.

The electronic devicemay also include system circuitry. System circuitrymay include processor(s)and/or memory. Memorymay include an operating system, instructions, and parameters. Instructionsmay be configured for the one or more of the processorsto perform the functions of the network node. The parametersmay include parameters to support execution of the instructions. For example, parameters may include network protocol settings, bandwidth parameters, radio frequency mapping assignments, and/or other parameters.

shows an example of an electronic device to implement a terminal device(for example, user equipment (UE)). The UEmay be a mobile device, for example, a smart phone or a mobile communication module disposed in a vehicle. The UEmay include communication interfaces, a system circuitry, an input/output interfaces (I/O), a display circuitry, and a storage. The display circuitry may include a user interface.

The system circuitrymay include any combination of hardware, software, firmware, or other logic/circuitry. The system circuitrymay be implemented, for example, with one or more systems on a chip (SoC), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), discrete analog and digital circuits, and other circuitry. The system circuitrymay be a part of the implementation of any desired functionality in the UE. In that regard, the system circuitrymay include logic that facilitates, as examples, decoding and playing music and video, e.g., MP3, MP4, MPEG, AVI, FLAC, AC3, or WAV decoding and playback; running applications; accepting user inputs; saving and retrieving application data; establishing, maintaining, and terminating cellular phone calls or data connections for, as one example, internet connectivity; establishing, maintaining, and terminating wireless network connections, Bluetooth connections, or other connections; and displaying relevant information on the user interface. The user interfaceand the inputs/output (I/O) interfacesmay include a graphical user interface, touch sensitive display, haptic feedback or other haptic output, voice or facial recognition inputs, buttons, switches, speakers and other user interface elements. Additional examples of the I/O interfacesmay include microphones, video and still image cameras, temperature sensors, vibration sensors, rotation and orientation sensors, headset and microphone input/output jacks, Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectors, memory card slots, radiation sensors (e.g., IR sensors), and other types of inputs.

Referring to, the communication interfacesmay include a Radio Frequency (RF) transmit (Tx) and receive (Rx) circuitrywhich handles transmission and reception of signals through one or more antennas. The communication interfacemay include one or more transceivers. The transceivers may be wireless transceivers that include modulation/demodulation circuitry, digital to analog converters (DACs), shaping tables, analog to digital converters (ADCs), filters, waveform shapers, filters, pre-amplifiers, power amplifiers and/or other logic for transmitting and receiving through one or more antennas, or (for some devices) through a physical (e.g., wireline) medium. The transmitted and received signals may adhere to any of a diverse array of formats, protocols, modulations (e.g., QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, or 256-QAM), frequency channels, bit rates, and encodings. As one specific example, the communication interfacesmay include transceivers that support transmission and reception under the 2G, 3G, BT, WiFi, Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA)+, 4G/Long Term Evolution (LTE), 5G, and/or further developed standards. The techniques described below, however, are applicable to other wireless communications technologies whether arising from the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), GSM Association, 3GPP2, IEEE, or other partnerships or standards bodies.

Referring to, the system circuitrymay include one or more processorsand memories. The memorystores, for example, an operating system, instructions, and parameters. The processoris configured to execute the instructionsto carry out desired functionality for the UE. The parametersmay provide and specify configuration and operating options for the instructions. The memorymay also store any BT, WiFi, 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G, or other data that the UEwill send, or has received, through the communication interfaces. In various implementations, a system power for the UEmay be supplied by a power storage device, such as a battery or a transformer.

The present disclosure describes several below embodiments, which may be implemented, partly or totally, on the network base station and/or the user equipment described above in.

In some implementations, for MUSIM enhancement, MUSIM UE's hardware capabilities are shared by the SIMs, and to use the hardware efficiently and economically, the related capabilities need to be dynamically split between the two SIMs. This may lead to a temporary hardware conflict. For example, UE is connected to the network A, it would have some capability restriction to the network A when the UE need to enter connected state with the network B. Thus, the UE need to indicate the capability restriction to the network A.

In some implementations, in the master node-secondary node (MN-SN) coordination, the capability coordination may be performed by the MN indicating the available band combination (BC) information to the SN as below (MN->SN).

In the above, the MN may indicate to the SN about the available BC, selected band entries and featureSet entries for each BC. For example, referring to, for BC, there are 3 bands (e.g., Band, Band, and Band), and alsofeature set entries (e.g., FeatureSetEntry, FeatureSetEntry, and FeatureSetEntry) in the corresponding FeatureSetCombination.

In some implementations, for the BC, when only the FeatureSetEntryand FeatureSetEntrycan be used by the SN, the MN may set the allowedFeatureSetsList=[1][2], representing FeatureSetEntryand FeatureSetEntry, for the BC.

In some implementations, for the BC, when the MN selects bandand band, the MN would set the SelectedBandEntriesMN=[0][1], representing bandand band, for the BC.

In some implementations, from the MUSIM UE RF perspective, when it works at dual connected state with 2 USIM, it would be similar to the MR-DC, thus the similar capability coordination scheme can be considered. For example, the UE indicates the allowed BC and corresponding Feature set entry(s), the UE may also indicate forbidden BC or forbidden FeatureSet. With these implementations, the UE may provide the network with comprehensive capability restriction information.

In some implementations, referring to, a UE () may report assistance information of capability restriction to the network by using a procedure. The UE may include a SIMaccess stratum (AS)and a SIMAS, which are configured to connect to a SIMe/gNB A. The procedure may include a portion or all of the following steps. Step, the UE (SIMAS) is in a connected state via band A with the SIMe/gNB A. Step, the UE needs to enter active state on band B. Step, the UE determines the temporary capability restriction. Step, the UE sends the UE assistant information with temporary capability restriction to the SIMe/gNB A. Step, the SIMe/gNB A sends a reconfiguration message to the UE. Step, the UE sends a reconfiguration complete to the SIMe/gNB A.

In some implementations, the UE may indicate the temporary capability restriction, including one or more of the following: allowed/forbidden BC or feature set or the maximum multiple input multiple output (MIMO) layer, maximum CC numbers as the power saving/overheating, or SCell/SCG release, in the UE assistant information (UAI). The temporary capability restriction including capability update, release of cells, and/or (de)activation of configured resources and so on. The UE may indicate such restriction with band combination information.

In some implementations, in a UE capability structure, a band combination list would be reported, for each BC, there would be a FeaturesetCombination. For each FeaturesetCombination, there may be one or more featureset combinations, take the BCas below as an example (e.g.,), there are 3 featureset combination entries. For example, BC->FeaturesetCombination ID index (or number (No.)).

In some implementations, for reporting temporary capability restriction, the UE may indicate at least one of the below BC list: an allowed BC list: the BC with the corresponding Feature set capability can be used without any restriction; an affected BC list: there are some restriction on these BCs, and/or a forbidden BC list: these BCs are forbidden.

In some implementations, for the Affected BC list, the UE may further indicate the affected featureset combination entry Entries. The featureset combination entry may include at least one of the following: an allowed featureset combination entry list: the featureset combination entry with the corresponding Feature set capability can be used without any restriction; an affected featureset combination entry list: there are some restriction on these featureset combination entries; and/or an forbidden featureset combination entry list: these featureset combination entries are forbidden.

For an non-limiting example, when, for the BC, the UE may only support feature set combination entryand, the UE may indicate forbidden feature set combination entryinto the forbidden feature set entry list for the BC, or the UE may indicate feature set combination entryandinto the allowed feature set entry list to the network.

In various embodiments, methods are described to address at least one of the following issues. One issue includes, for each BC, how to indicate the related feature set entry, especially for the situations wherein only fallback capability is supported. Another issue includes how to indicate the selected band entry, how to indicate the band entry of the second network (network B), or how to indicate the allowed band entry of the first network (network A). Another issue includes how to indicate the capability restriction with an inter-node message (INM).

Referring to, the present disclosure describes embodiments of a methodfor wireless communication. The methodmay include step, sending, by a user equipment (UE) to a first network, a UE assistance information comprising UE temporary capability restriction, the UE capability restriction indicating one or more restriction dimensions to the first network.

Without limitation to the present disclosure, the various embodiments described below may use a UE with the Multi-SIMs. These embodiments are examples and do not limit the present disclosure, and the present disclosure may also be applied to the other scenarios that a UE need to connect to two networks simultaneously or a UE is to be configured to connect to two networks simultaneously.